Board Member Seeks Equal Time

MARK BOGEN CONDO LAW

May 11, 2001|MARK BOGEN

The following is a letter from a board member:

Your questions seem to come from unit owners who are always complaining about their board or the decisions of the board. Boards of directors are unpaid and constantly under fire by an army of anonymous critics.

In one of your columns, a unit owner complained about a commercial vehicle parked in the condo parking lot.

Does that unit owner think it is the obligation of a board member to patrol the parking areas?

It is ironic that unit owners never want to get involved in day-to-day matters until an issue affects them.

Most unit owners do not come to meetings, fail to vote and think that board members are their servants. However, when neighbors are too noisy, people frolic in the pool after hours, or even when a crime is being committed, a board member is called.

While I realize that board members have a responsibility, unit owners need to remember that we are volunteers. If someone does not like the job we are doing, they should run for the board instead of being a critic. I hope you will give us equal time in your column.

Q. I am writing to you as a community association manager of a condo complex here in South Florida. In several of your columns, you tell the reader to seek the advice of an attorney. You fail to mention that a good community association manager is a great resource when problems arise.

It is my opinion that the legal industry is trying to discredit or even abolish the CAM licensing program. A good manager will reduce the dependency a condominium has for its attorney, as well as save money.

Why should a board go to an attorney every time it has a question when the manager can usually handle it and at the same time save some of the condo's budget?

A. The board of any association should only consult with its attorney when legal advice is needed.

A community association manager should be consulted when it involves the management of the condo. However, I agree that a manager can save a condo time and money if he or she is consulted and utilized.

Mark Bogen can be reached at bogen2000@aol.com or write to the Sun-Sentinel, 3333 S. Congress Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33445.